The Tribune

FREE National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr Hubert Minnis said it has become more evident that the country is “in desperate need” of a leadership change due to economic “freefall” and rising unemployment.

In a statement released yesterday, the Killarney MP also said the country’s streets are not safe and as the murder count continues to increase, a “stunned” Prime Minster Perry Christie “consistently reacts with empty promises for remedying the crime problem”.

Hitting out at the government’s “rushed” implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI), Dr Minnis said the FNM would invest in healthcare and introduce the previously promised catastrophic health insurance plan.

“Mr Christie appears out of touch and totally disconnected from reality, while his government appears crippled and out of control,” Dr Minnis added. “In the midst of these challenging circumstances, the Free National Movement is poised and actively positioning itself to return to government and to usher in the changes necessary to steady the ship of state.”

Dr Minnis said the country’s troubles are largely due to the government’s reluctance to listen to critics.

On NHI, he said: “Front and backbenchers in this Christie administration have gone on record criticising the premature rollout of this new programme. They have cited a lack of education and lack of information on costs to the Bahamian people as points of rebuke. A new FNM government will give affordable healthcare for all Bahamians the kind of strategic attention it deserves.”

Dr Minnis said an FNM administration would place an emphasis on healthy lifestyles, telemedicine, the Prescription Drug Plan, the Critical Care Block and mini hospitals throughout the country.

“Additionally, an FNM government will construct mini hospitals in Eleuthera and Long Island, a new maternity and child health wing at PMH, and we will move forward with the introduction of proper cardiac care, improvement of the Accident and Emergency Department, ambulance decentralisation, health systems integration, telemedicine and radiology, proper and improved primary care, and introduce as previously promised catastrophic insurance, thus immediately tackling the problems faced by many and reducing the need for cook-outs. On all matters, Bahamians will always know what they are getting and the projected cost to support same.”

Dr Minnis also said a government led by him would do more than talk about job creation.

“Instead, we will walk the talk and make diversified entrepreneurship and by extension, Bahamian ownership a priority. A new FNM government will establish stronger foreign investment policies to ensure that the chaos and stalemate now synonymous with Baha Mar never happens again. A new FNM government will explore and fully engage the talents and skills of Bahamians before foreign consultants are contracted.”

He added: “Our country continues to drift off course and is spiralling downward at a rapid pace. We pray for the safety and comfort of people throughout The Bahamas at this time, in particular the unemployed and victims of crime. Change is coming.”